Bab 2: Entering the Portal
Right now, Peng Mingzhu was by herself, standing in front of the gigantic portal. There was no one else in the huge metallic room but herself. Why?
Today was a break day for the team as they had reached a breakthrough. Finished with all the technologies corresponding to Project TT, the scientists decided to take a week off and spend time with their family as they spent the majority of their personal time in the lab.
However, the reason why she was by herself at this moment was mostly because her decision to enter the portal was her personal decision. She had been vetoed by everyone participating in the project when she stated that she wanted to be the first person to enter the portal.
By being the first person, her safety was not ensured and no one knew what could go wrong. As the figurehead of the Peng Corporation, naturally, she could not go missing. However, to Peng Mingzhu, this portal was her dream.
The only reason why she persistently worked hard to create the Peng Corporation was so that she could gather enough resources to build a team of smart and loyal scientists that would aid her in making this portal that could travel between time, specifically, the past.
Peng Mingzhu dreamed of being able to travel to ancient China and experience what the ancient people experienced. Reading history books was not enough for her and seeing murals of the past was not enough.
She was greedy. Greedy to see first-hand the past.
With hard work, Peng Mingzhu was able to convince the team to perform the surgery for the devices on her. Now, with secret work, she was able to leave this world by using the portal.
Currently, her heartbeat was speeding up. Her blood was pulsing and her hands could not stay still while her feet needed to constantly move. Her entire body was in excitement and she could not calm it down one bit.
Closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths, Peng Mingzhu slowly pressed the button to startup the portal.
Glowing a beautiful blue hue, the portal started up. The screen in the Communications Center turned on though only showing an empty school green color. Everything else in the huge metallic room turning on after she pressed the button with her identification card.
Peng Mingzhu was sure that after today, her team of scientists would be unable to take a week off anymore.
Laughing to herself when imagining their bitter faces, she thought back to their hard work. She was determined. Determined to make sure their efforts did not go to waste.
With no second thoughts and doubts, Peng Mingzhu walked towards the portal with confidence.
She did not know what to exist after entering the portal, but one of her guesses was something similar to the television depictions of time travel through wormholes. It would be either nausea or a blackout.
However, she experienced. Instead, she journeyed peacefully, and...quite fast.
The moment that the blue hue of the portal disappeared, Peng Mingzhu was greeted by the golden halo of the bright sun. Unused to such bright lighting, she had to put her hand up to block the sun for a minute before her eyes could adjust to the sun.
When she finally got used to the blaring sun, she took a look around the area. In front of her was a clear blue river while she was standing on loose sand. Behind her, was a field of bright green grass, and looking further on, there was a road that led to three different points.
Peng Mingzhu did not know where they led to, however, she could see that the middle road went into a bamboo forest. As for the left and right road, she could only guess that they led to a town or city.
After getting used to her terrain, she turned on the devices by touching her bracelet tattoo. The moment that she did so, the tattoo glowed yellow and so did the other three devices.
In front of her, appeared a yellow screen.
INITIALIZATION
PLEASE WAIT…
After the initialization, more words appeared.
CONNECTION SET-UP
PLEASE WAIT…
Once the connection was determined successful, another screen popped up.
STARTING UP
3…
2…
1…
When this finished, a verification form appeared.
PLEASE VERIFY:
EYE
FINGERPRINT
FACE
ID
After accomplishing all the verification tasks, a menu...or rather home screen finally popped up, allowing Peng Mingzhu to gain access to all necessary information.
Going to the river that had clear blue water, she stuck her hand inside.
"Evaluate water purity."
WATER PURITY PERCENTAGE: 100%
DETERMINATION: SAFE TO DRINK
PRECAUTIONS: NONE
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAVE DATA? YES OR NO
"Yes."
NAME DATA ENTRY
"Unknown River Data."
DATA ENTRY SAVED.
After saving the data into the system, Peng Mingzhu looked around. She did not know where she was and she could not ask the system for help. Even after analyzing the surroundings, she could not say that this was a modern era or ancient era.
No matter which time she went to, they would all have bamboo forests, dirt paths, green grasses, and a clean river. Well, depending on which places she traveled to, of course. Who did not know that China was incredibly polluted by the onslaught of coal factories?
Just when she was about to follow the path leading to the right, she heard a loud and clear voice call out.
"Who dares intrude upon His Highness's camp?!"
Well, just hearing this question, Peng Mingzhu already knew that she was definitely in the past. The amount of countries that still address their princes and princess as "Your Highness" is almost non-existent and she would expect even more if she went to the future.
With a sincere and earnest voice, Peng Mingzhu responded as though she was a commoner.
"This one apologizes."
Once she answered, she finally saw who it was that called out. It was a man who looked to be in his early twenties who also wore an ancient soldier uniform. His hand was on the hilt of his sword and he looked to be ready to strike at any moment.
"Who are you!?"
The man cautiously asks with full attention.
"I apologize. I am just a wandering commoner woman."
"Why are you here?! Do you not know that this is His Highness's private territory?"
"Once again, I am very sorry. I seem to be lost. I followed up the river, but I really could not find my town."
Hearing her response, the soldier frowned.
"You-"
"Yes?"
"Is this your first time out of your town?"
Just when Peng Mingzhu was about to answer, she heard him mumble in a low voice that a normal human could not hear, but she could due to the ear device.
"That's not right. She looks like an old lady already and her hair's even up, meaning she should be a married woman. Even if she's sheltered, she should still know her way considering the fact that there are only a few towns nearby."
"Old lady? Married?"
Peng Mingzhu questioned with furrowed brows.
'When did I become someone old? I can announce to the world that I am at my prime age! How rude! Also, married!?! I am still single, you jerk!!!!!'
"Y-you can hear me?"
The man asked with a surprised face.
"I can tell you that I have an absolutely good hearing," she said with a frown. "Also, just because I put my hair up does not mean that I am married. I merely put it up since it gets in the way of business."
At her rebuke, the man shyly scratched his head and apologized, "Ah, sorry. Still, do you really not know that this is His Highness's private territory?"
"Hm… How far does His Highness's private territory span?" Peng Mingzhu asked with her hand on her chin.
"His Highness's territory spans from Jiangging to Shizuishi," the man answered. "This is only one of the many that he has."
"Um… May I ask...what year, month, and day it is currently...and which continent, dynasty...and such…" Peng Mingzhu embarrassedly asked.
She really did not want to ask these questions to a stranger, but she had no way to navigate. She was in an unknown territory where she held no power. She could not trust anyone, but she could also not be paranoid of every passing stranger.
In shock at her request, the man shouted out in an abrupt upheaval of emotions, "You! Were you born in an underground chamber?! How could you not know the history of the continent!?"
"That…" with no excuse to give the man, she could only tell him, "I seem to have lost all my memories...I-I really do not know where I am at…"
Sighing at her statement, the man finally sighed, "Sheesh… Forget it. Follow me."
"Follow you? Where to?" Peng Mingzhu quickly asked before the man could turn around.
"To His Highness's camp," the man instantly answered. "I will have my men take care of you until you regain your memories."
"Huh? Is that okay? Will His Highness be okay with that?" she asked with doe-like eyes.
"His Highness will not care about a stranger joining the group," the man stated. "Besides, why do you not worry that I am a bandit?"
"A bandit does not dress like you," Peng Mingzhu answered while staring up and down at his soldier uniform. "They also do not carry such a fancy sword-like yours."
"Hm? You recognize my sword?" the man with a raised brow.
"No," she shook her head. "But I recognize the material. Your sword has gold engravings, silver embroidery, and even a high-quality leather encasing."
"Huh… You know your stuff, don't you?" the man appreciated before walking ahead. "Alright, no more small talk. Follow me and be quick, or you'll get lost again."
"Ah, yes," Peng Mingzhu quickly responded and chased after the man. "Thank you very much!"
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Supremely_Innocent
Supremely_Innocent I feel inspired at this moment. Imagine if I was in The Sims 4 at this moment. I'd be cramming out books after books with a level 10 writing skill. XD
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